Jacquard compensating means



09*- 9, 1945- J. ROBINSON j 2, 6

JACQUARD COMPENSATING MEANS Filed June 26, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet l JACQU/YRD INVENTOR. JONAS Roam/50A! ATTbR/Vgy Oct. 9, 1945. J. ROBINSON 2,386,574

JACQUARD CbMPENSATING MEANS Filed June 2e,.1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR; Jo/v/ls P0 e/Nso/v BY 7 i A 7 TOPNEY J. ROBINSON JACQUARD COMPENSATING MEANS Oct. 9, 1945.

Filed June 26, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 mm m we T IO T R MA 5 Oct. 9, 1945. J; "QRQBHQSQN 2,386,574

' JAICQUARD GOMPENSATING MEANS Filed June 26, 1942 4 Sheets-She'e't 4 F I g /60 INVENTOR. JONAS VPOB/NSON A 7' TORNE Y Patented Oct; 9, 1945 @UNlTEn :ZSTATES PATENT. OFFICE JACQUARD COIVIPENSATIN G MEANS I Jonas Robinson, Clarke Summit, Pa. 1 Application June 26, 1942, Serial'No. 448,527

' Claims. 1 ('01. 87-14) i This invention relates to pattern-controlling means and refers more particularly to means connecting a Jacquard'with'heddles, jacks, pickers or other thread-controlling elements of a tuated by the-Jacquard, the string movement and said difierent movement of the element being so combined and/or cor'elated that as soon as action is transmitted by the Jacquard, the

; element will be able to manipulate its jack or heddle in the required manner irrespective of any extensions or contractions of'the string.

According to some of the preferred embodi ,ments of the inventive idea, the element, which may have the form of a plate, may carry out a pulling movement, as well as a swinging moveof strings or cords with the lifters, hooks 'or needles of the Jacquard; The number o fstrings is equal to that 'of 'theheddles or jacks and is quite great. The Jacquard is mounted, of neces sity, high above the loom or machine "frame, the length "of the-"strings or cords extending be: tween the Jacquard and theheddl'esbr jacks being'often from 16 to feet. r Y "It was found that these very long strings and cords are afiected to a great extent by variable atmospheric conditions. A-s'tring may extend to such an exten't that the operationof the J acquard will not result inthe withdrawal of a jack or heddle, or a string may contract so much that the jack or heddle 'will remain withdrawn despite the operationsof the Jacquard. Constant attention and frequent adjustments are necessary to ensure goodwork being produced.

It is among the important objects of the present invention to provide a device automatically compensating for the extension orcontraction of the aforesaid'strings and cords.

Another object is to provide a compensating device which will ensure proper operation of the heddles and jacks by a Jacquard 'irrespective of the'contraction or extension of the connecting strings and cords. 4 r i *-A further object'is to eliminate the necessity for; constant attentionand frequent adjustments of the Jacquard-connecting means through the provision of automatically operable compensating means interposed between the Jacquard and the elements operatedthereby'.

Other objects of thepresent invention will beco-m'e'apparent in the course of the following specification. I 7

'In accomplishing the objects of the present invention it was found desirable to insert" into the length of each connecting string and fairly close to the loom or machine'an elementwhich ment. The swinging movement may be produced by an external force and may be transmitted to the jack or heddle; in that case the pulling movement is the one received by the element from the string. on the other hand, the swing ing movement may be caused by a guide formshowing, by way of exampleonly, some of the preferred embodiments of the inventive In the drawings: 1 V Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view illustrating the use of pattern-controlling means which are constructed in accordance with the present invention, in a Nottingham lace curtain machine.

idea.

Figure 2 is a partial top view along the line 2--2 of Figure 1. I

Figure 3 shows a compensating plate in side elevation. 1 V

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic top View of a part of the Nottingham lace machine, illustrating the operating of the jacks.

Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating a fabric made on the Nottingham lace curtain machine. Figure 6 is a perspective view of a somewhat different compensating plate.

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic side view illustrating the combination of at Nottingham lace curtain machine with compensating or equalizing means of a different type.

Figure 8 isa section showing on a larger scale the compensating means illustrated in Figure '7. Figure 9 is similar to Figure 8 and shows the compensating means in a difierent position.

compensating devices, such devices may be conveniently used with any other type of textile machine, such as a loom or a curtain machine of.

any type.

The Nottingham lace curtain machine I5 is of standard construction and is shown merely in the form of a diagram in Figures 1 and 7.

The machine comprises carriages I8 carrying disc-like bobbins l9. Bobbins l9 carry tying threads (Fig. 5) and are thrown between warp threads 2| and spool or patterning threads 22. Warp threads 2| extend through uniformly spaced openings of a warp bar or guide bar 23, while spool threads 22 extend through similar openings of a spool bar or guide bar 24. Jacks are carried by a jack bar 28 and are adapted to project between a pair of warp and spool threads (Fig. 4). Each jack 25 is provided with a curved portion 21 to which an end of a string 28 is attached.

In prior art, strings 28 extended over sley bars 29 (Fig. 7) directly to a Jacquard l6.

In operation, bobbins l9 reciprocate in the direction of the arrow 38 (Fig. 1) by being thrown between the separated threads, while the bars 23 and 24 reciprocate in the direction of their lengths. The jack bar 26 carries out a reciprocatory turning movement and moves the jacks 25 to the withdrawn position shown by broken lines in Figures 1 and 7. At that time some of the needles of the Jacquard l6 are operated.

As already stated, in prior art the strings 28 were directly actuated by the Jacquard needles, which pulled them taut. Therefore, when the jack bar 26 moved back to the normal position indicated by full lines in the drawings, some of the resilient jacks 25 were maintained in the withdrawn broken-line position by their taut strings 28, and remained out'of engagement with the threads 2| and 22 during the movement of the bars 23 and 24, until the Jacquard needles released the strings and the resilient jacks sprang back to their normal position.

The pattern of a fabric 3| (Figure 5) depends upon the positions of the jacks 25 in. relation to the threads 2 I and 22, said positions being determined by the needles of the Jacquard l8 and the strings 28 operated thereby. As indicated in Figure 4, strings 28 may maintain the jacks 25 in a full lift position, or a half-lift position in which the tip of a jack is located. between the two bars. 4

The described operation of a Nottingham lace curtain machine is well known and does not constitute a part of the present invention which is concerned with means transmitting the movement of the needles of a Jacquard l8 through the strings 28 for the purpose of maintaining some of the jacks 25 in the withdrawn positions.

As already stated, the strings between the Jacquard and the jacks may be as long as 20 or 25 feet, while the full path of movement of the upper end of a jack for a full lift is about one inch. It is apparent that variations in atmospheric humidity will cause the strings to contract or expand. If the strings contract too much, they may prevent the jacks from assuming their normal forward position, so that the jacks will remain in the half lift or full lift positions despite the release of the strings by the needles of the Jacquard. On the other hand, if the strings expand too much, a jack may be returned to a half lift or forward position despite the movement of the corresponding needle of the Jacquard to the full lift position.

In accordance with the present invention, the

expansion and contraction of the strings may be compensated by a compensator or equalizer (Figures 1, 2 and 3).

The compensator comprises a plurality of plates 33, the number of the plates being equal to that of the jacks. Each plate 33 is attached by a separate string 28 to a separate jack 25. The plates 33 extend in vertical rows and are separated from each other by partitions 34 which are attached to a wall 35. The strings 28 are attached to ears 38 situated at the bottom of the plates 33. The forward edge of the plate 33, which faces the machine l5, consists of a vertical bottom portion 50 and an upper vertical portion 5| joined by a horizontal portion 52, the plate being wider at the bottom than at the top.

Each plate 33 is connected at 31 by a separate string |28 with a separate actuating needle (not shown) of the Jacquard l6. The strings |28 extend upwardly and are very long, while the strings 28 are quite short and extend substantially horizontally.

It is thus apparent that according to the present invention, the single string of prior art constructions is separated close to the textile machine into two strings 28 and I28 and a compensating plate is connected to both strings.

The Jacquard needle exerts an upward pull upon the string I28 and the plate 33 connected therewith. When the string I28 is of normal length, the extent of the upward movement of the plate 33 is represented by the distance between the lines 38 and 39 in Figure 3. As already stated, this upward movement of the string I28 and of the plate 33 is caused by a Jacquard needle when for pattern purposes the corre-- sponding jack 25 should be retained in the rearward or lift position.

The upward movement of a plate 33 is transmitted'to the corresponding string 28 by an oscillatory mechanism comprising an elongated shogging bar 40 which is carried by levers 4| mounted upon a pivot 42. The levers 4| carry cam followers 43 engaging cams 44 which are rotatable along with a driving shaft 45 and which are provided with circular surfaces 48 and projections 4|. Springs 48 maintain the cam followers 43 in engagement with the cams 44.

It is apparent that when a projection 41 engages the cam follower 43, the lever 4| is swun toward the plate 33. As soon as the projection 41 is moved beyond the cam follower, the spring 48. pulls back the lever 4|, so-that the lever 4| and the bar 48 connected therewith carry out an oscillatory or swinging movement.

The length of movement of the bar 48 depends upon the size of the projections 41, and the lat- .in its entirety against the wall 35.

gWhen aplate 33 is .pulled'upwardly by astring I28, the tip 53of thebar will move inthe yicinity of-the line 39 of, Figure 3 and 'will strike the plate 33,at about the point 54v of the edge 58, since the edge 58 is further forward than; the edge 5 I. The bar 48 will swing the plate 33 .and at first one edge. of the plate 33 will engage the wall;35,:whereupon the plate 33 will be pressed Obviously, thestring 28 will be stretched taut during this movement of the plate. 33'and if at that time the 7 rotation are so selected that the time interval during which the bar 43, exerts its pressure and a Jacquard I6. The compensating device III includes a plurality of plates I8, each plate being 7 connected to separate strings 28 and I28 at II and against' the edge 50 of a plate 33 coincides 'approximately with the time period during which the corresponding needle of the Jacquard I8 exerts its pulling'force upon thestring I28, these time periods being sufficient to maintain the jack out of engagement with the threads 2I and 22 during a back-and-forth movement of the bars 23and24. v a

If atmospheric conditions or other circumstances causean expansion or extension of the long string; I28, then this string will be more slack between the Jacquard I6 and the plate 33, and the plate 33 willhang lower. Then thepoint of contact between the tip- 53 of the bar 48 and the edge '58 of the plate 33 in the full lift position ofthe plate will be shifted upwardly from the normal location 54 and toward the edge 52. However, so long as the tip 53 can strike the edge 58, the expansion'of the string I28 will notinfluence the action of the plate33 upon the string 28 and the jack connected therewith. 7

If the string I28 is contracted by atmospheric conditions, the plate33 will move upwardly, but its operation will not be affected so long as the tip 53 of the bar 40 can swing above the edge 52 in thenon-lifting position of the plate.

Figure 6 shows a plate I33 which'may be used to maintain the jack connected thereto not only in the non-lifting and full lift positions, but in the half lift position as well. For that purpose,

tical port-ions 60, 63 and BI and two horizontal portions 62 and 64. The jack'remains in the non-lifting forward position so long as the shogging ,bar moves abovethe horizontal edge '64. The jack is maintained in a half lift position when the plate is somewhat moved by the shogging bar after the bar engaged the edge 63. The jack is maintained in its full lift position when the plate is moved to its full extent by the shogging bar which engages the edge 60 of the plate.

It is apparentthat the string I28 may expand or contract within widelimits without interfering with the action of the plate I33.

It was found that normal atmospheric variations may cause a variation of up to one inch in the length of a string I 28, the operative extent of whichmay range between 16 and 20 feet. The plate 33and I33 must be constructed so as to be able to compensatefor this variation.

Figures? to 10 show a different compensating device I I! connected to strings 28 and I28 which extend between a Nottingham lace machine I5 p '52, respectively (Fig. 8). Each plate has the form of a semi-circle with an upper straight edge I3 and a lower curved edge "I4. A front slot I5 formed in the plate extends at a fairly acute angle to theedge I3. Arear slot I6 consists of a rear part 11 extending at about the same angle as the slot I5 and of a front part I8 forming a much greater anglewith the edge I3 and having slightly curved edges. Plates '18 hang upon two rods I9 and 80. The rod l9 is mounted in a support BI and extends through the slots 15. The rod 88 is mounted in a support 82 and extends through the slots I6. When the Jacquard Ifi does not exert a pulling action upon a string I28, its plate I8 is situated in its non-lifting position shown in Figure 8. When a jacquard needle begins to pull the string I 28 upwardly, the plate I0 will move along with it. The initial direction of movement of the plate i8 is determined by the direction of the slot I5 and of the rear part I'Iof the slot I6. After the rod I9 has engaged the opposite end of the slot I5 and when the rod 88 is located in the front part 78 of the slot 15, further pulling movement of the string I28 will cause the plate I0 to swing upwardly with the rod I9 as its pivot, until the end oft-he pulling movement is reached or until the rod 85 strikes the lower end of the front part I8 of the slot I6.

Thus the plate 'IIl'also separates the pulling movement of the Jacquard needle into two movements, only one of which is transmitted to the string 28. The extent of the pulling movement to which the string 28 is subjected, is shown in Figure 9 by the distance between the ear II in its non-lifting position shown by broken lines, and its'full lift position shown in full'lines.

This device is preferably installed in conditions of maximum humidity in the plant, since it is more suitable as a compensator for the exthe front/edge of the'plate I33 has three ver- F pansion or extension of the strings I28. When a string I28 expands, it will hang slack between the Jacquard I6 and the plate 10, so that apart of the pulling movement of the Jacquard needle will be absorbed in pulling thestring I28 taut. Only the remaining part of this pulling movement will be transmitted to the plate I0. However, so long as this remaining part is suflicient to shift the rod into the forward part I8 of the slot I6 thestring 28 will be actuated to the required extent.

Thus in this construction a diminution of the pulling movement upon the plate 10 resulting from an extensionof its string I28, results in the diminution of the turning motion of the plate 78, while the operative movement of the plate 19 which is transmitted to the string 28, need not be affected by the extension of the string I28.

A single jack may be connected with two separate J acquards by a construction shown in Figures 11 to 13. Each jack string 28 is connected at 98 to a plate I'Ill which is connected at 9| to a string 28 leading to one Jacquard, and which is connected at 92 to a string 328 leading to another Jacquard. The plates I!!! are supported by two rods E19 and I80 extending through slots 93 and 94, respectively. Both slots 93 and 94 are substantially angular in form with a very wide apex portion, so as to enable proper movement of the plate .IIG. The rod H9 is carried by a support I8I, while the rod I88 is adjustably held by a nut 91 in a horizontal slot port I82.

The plate I'll! is operated in substantially the same manner as the plate it, a full lift position of the plate I being shown by broken lines in Figure 11, while the non-lifting position is shown in full lines. The distance between lines 95 and 96 in Figure 11 shows the length of the pulling movement upon the string 28.

This device may be conveniently set to provide for a full lift or a half lift of thejacks. In the non-lifting position shown in full lines in Figure ll, the rod 180 is situated in the extreme rear end of the slot 93, provided in the support I82. Then both Jacquards may operate at full lift. In order to provide for a half lift, the rod I8!) is moved to a position substantially in the middle of the slot 98 of the support 582. Then the rod I88 will also extend approximately through the middleof the upper part of the slot 94. As stated in connection with plate ill, the relative movement between the upper part of the slot 94 of the plate I10 and the rod I8!) is that portion of the pulling movement of the string 328 which is transmitted to the string 28. When the rod I88 is close to the end of the upper part of the slot 94 in the non-lifting position of the plate llfi, as shown in full lines in Figure 11, then the relative movement between the upper part of the slot 94 and the rod I80 will cover the entire length of this upper part, resulting in a full lift pulling movement upon the string 28, as indicated by the distance between the lines 85 and 95 in Figure 11.

On the other hand, when the rod 18%) is in the middle of the upper part of the slot 94 in the nonlifting position of the plate lil, as shown in Figure 12, then the relative movement between the upper part of the slot 94 and the rod 80 will extend over only one half of this upper part and the balance of the pulling movement of the Jacquard needle will be transformed into a turning movement of the plate Ht. Thus the pulling movement transmitted by the plate ill! to the string 28 will be reduced to about one half, as designated by the distance between lines I95 and I96 in Figure 12.

It is apparent that according to this construction the adjustment from full lift to half lift and vice versa is carried out solely by the compensating device, so that a needle of a Jacquard may continue to transmit a full lift pulling movement to its string, while only a half lift pulling movement is transmitted to the string which is attached to the jack.

It is apparent that the specific illustrations shown above have been given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation and that the described methods and devices are subject to wide variation and modification, without departing from the scope or intent of the present invention; all of such variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present inven- 1011. What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a textile machine of the type having a plurality of thread-actuating ele-- ments and a Jacquard having pulling elements for operating said thread-actuating elements, and elongated connecting elements having ends attached to said pulling elements; a device for compensating for the expansion and contraction of said connecting elements, said device comprising other, connecting elements connected to said thread-actuating elements and means connecting 98 provided in a supthe first-mentioned connecting elements with the second-mentioned connecting elements and substituting a pulling movement transmitted by a pulling element to a first-mentioned connecting element by a smaller pulling movement transmitted by a second-mentioned connecting element to a thread-actuating element, and by another movement which is not transmitted to the secondmentioned connecting element and which may compensate for an extension or contraction of the first-mentioned connecting elements.

'2. In a device connecting a pulling element of a Jacquard with a thread-actuating element of a textile machine, an elongated connecting element having one end connected to said pulling element, another connecting element having one end connected to said thread-actuating element, and means interposed between the other ends of the two connecting elements for substituting a pulling movement transmitted by said pulling element to the first-mentioned connecting element by a smaller pulling movement transmitted by the secend-mentioned connecting element to said thread-actuating element, and by another movement which is not transmitted to the secondmentioned connecting element and which may compensate for an extension or contraction of the first-mentioned connecting elements.

3. A device for compensating for the extension and contraction of an elongated connecting element extending between an actuating element and an actuated element, said device comprising means receiving a pulling movement transmitted by said elongated connecting element from said actuating element, means transmitting a smaller pulling movement to said actuated element, and means carrying out a movement which is not transmitted to said actuated element and which may compensate for an extension or contraction of said connecting element.

4. In combination with a textile machine of the type having a plurality of thread-actuating elements and a Jacquard having pulling elements for operating said thread-actuating elements, and

' elongated connecting elements having ends attached to said pulling elements; a device for compensating for the expansion of said connecting elements, said device comprising a plurality of compensating elements connected to the other ends of said connecting elements, and other connecting elements connecting said compensating elements with said thread-actuating elements; said compensating elements comprising means separating a pulling movement transmitted by a pulling element and a first-mentioned connecting element into a smaller pulling movement transmitted to a second-mentioned connecting element, and another movement of a compensating element which is not. transformed into a pulling movement of the second-mentioned connecting element.

5. In a device connecting a pulling element of a Jacquard with a thread-actuating element of a textile machine, an elongated connecting element having one end connected to said pulling element, another connecting element having one end connected to said thread-actuating element, and means interposed between the other ends of the two connecting elements for separating a pulling movement transmitted by said pulling element to the first-mentioned connecting element into a smaller pulling movement transmitted by the second-mentioned connecting element to said thread-actuating element, and into another movement which is directed substantially at right angles to said smaller pulling movement, which is not transmitted to the second-mentioned connecting element and which may compensate for:an extension of the-firstmentioned connecting element.

said actuated element, said plate comprising 7 means actuated by said movement to turn said plate, whereby said turning movement of the plate is not transmitted to the actuated element and may compensate for an extension of said connecting element.

7. A device for compensating for the extension of an elongated'connecting element extending between an actuating element and an actuated element, said device comprising another connecting element connected to the actuated element and a plate connected to the two connecting elements and having at least one slot portion formedtherein for transforming a part of a pulling movement of said actuating element and the first-mentioned connecting element into a smaller pulling movement of the second-mentioned connecting element, and another slot portion formed therein for transforming the other part of the first-mentioned pulling movement into a'turning movement of the plate, whereby said turning movement of the plate is not transmitted to the actuated element and may compensate for an extension of the first-mentioned. connecting element.

8. In combination with a textile machine of the type having a plurality of thread-actuating elements and a Jacquard having pulling elements for operating said thread-actuating elements, and elongated connecting elements having ends attached to said pulling elements; a device for compensating for the expansion of said connecting elements, said device comprising a plurality'of plates connected to the other ends of said connecting elements, and other connecting'elements connecting said plates with said thread-actuating elements; each of said plates comprising a substantially straight slot formed therein and situated comparatively close to the second-mentioned connecting elements, and a substantially angular slot formed in the plate and situated comparatively close to the first-mentioned connecting elements, said angular' slot having a part extending substantially parallel to the first-mentioned slot and another part extending approximately at a right angle to the direction of the second-mentioned connecting elements; and rods extending through said slots and carrying said plates.

9. In combination with a textile machine of the type having a plurality of thread-actuating elements and at least one Jacquard having pulling elements for operating said, thread-actuating elements, and elongated connecting elements having ends attached to said pulling elements; a device for compensatingfor the expansion of said connecting elements, said devicercomprising a plurality of plates connected to the other ends of said connecting elements, and other connecting elements connecting said plates with said thread-actuating elements; each of said plates comprising a forward slot formed therein and situated comparatively close to the second-mentioned connecting Y elements, and a rear slot formed in the plate and situated comparatively close to the first-mentioned connecting elements, at least said rear slot being angular and having a lower part extending approximately at a right angle to the direction of the second-mentioned connecting elements, and an upper part forming an angle with said lower part, said forward slot having a part extending substantially parallel to the upper part of said rear slot; a rod extending through said forward slots, another rod adapted to extend through the upper parts of the rear slots in the inoperative position of the plates, and means for adjusting the location of the second-mentioned rod in said upper parts in said inoperative position to vary the extent of movement transmitted to the threadactuating elements.

10. In combination with a textile machine of the type having a plurality of thread-actuating elements and two J acquards having pulling elements for operating said thread-actuating elements, and elongated connecting elements having ends attached to said pulling elements; a device for compensating for the expansion of said connecting elements; said device comprising a plurality of plates connected to the other ends of said connecting elements, each plate being connected to two connecting elements connected to pulling elements of different Jacquards, and other connecting elements connecting said plates with said thread-actuating elements, each of said plates comprising a forward slot and a rear slot formed therein, said slots being angular and having upper parts enabling a movement of the plates in the direction of the second-mentioned connecting elements, and lower parts enabling a'movement of the plates at a substantially right angle to the. direction of the second-mentioned connecting elements, and rods extending through said slots and carrying said plates.

JONAS ROBINSON. 

